New running lane in Dachau: Old town will be made barrier-free!

New running lane in Dachau: Old town will be made barrier-free!

In Dachau, progress is being made to make the old town even more pedestrian-friendly. This will be the case from now onOctober 31stWork has begun on the construction of a new walking strip between the Resistance Square and the Martin Huber Stairs. The project is expected tofive to six weeksclaim. The aim is to make crossing the old town safer and more comfortable for people with limited mobility and parents with strollers. The accessibility of the local shops and apartments remains guaranteed during construction work. The only restriction: The resistance area will only be accessible via the upper access and will partly function as a material storage area.

Particularly highlighted is the new paving that begins on the sidewalk in front of the “Sinneslust” shop. The construction site will then move piece by piece towards the Martin Huber Stairs, meaning that city residents and visitors will need patience during the transition period. But the measure has the potential to sustainably improve the cityscape and the use of the old town. Every step towards accessibility is important to create more inclusive living spaces.

Accessibility: A Global Concern

The fact that accessibility has supra-regional and international dimensions is also evident in the global approaches that have been developed in recent years. Digital accessibility is a significant human rights issue that has made significant progress, particularly in the European Union and the United States. In the EU the obliges European Accessibility Act Company for the barrier-free design of digital products. In Germany, this approach was anchored in the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), which will also require private companies to comply with corresponding standards from 2025.

In addition, public bodies must ensure that digital content is accessible to everyone through the Accessible Information Technology Ordinance (BITV 2.0). The comparison of international regulations shows that the implementation of accessibility is sometimes fragmented, but always depends on social awareness. Countries like Norway and Australia already have legal frameworks that promote and support digital inclusion.

Challenges and opportunities of digitalization

As digitization progresses, not only public bodies but also private companies are faced with the challenge of making their offerings barrier-free. Digital solutions such as the **Carteira de Trabalho Digital**, launched in Brazil, are an example of how digital belonging and civil rights can be promoted. This process is simple, happens online and without bureaucratic hurdles, which overall contributes to better integration between citizens and the government. Information is bundled, from employment contracts to benefits, all available in one modern app. This makes it all the easier to use this information in everyday life.

As the developments in Dachau's old town show, accessibility is a matter that is extremely important locally. With every new step towards greater accessibility, we are moving in the right direction – for everyone! The construction work in Dachau is a concrete example of how even small steps on a local scale can have great significance.